Ever wondered how your ancestors used to brush their teeth before toothpaste was invented?
What was the ingredient the toothpaste replaced?
And when did it replace that certain ingredient people used to brush or wash their teeth?
Also what ingredients are used in toothpaste? Is toothpaste a base? What is the pH of toothpaste?
We will clear all of your doubts regarding the matter: What did people use before toothpaste?
Now, tighten your belts to time travel to when people used to apply different types of natural ingredients like soot, seeds, plants, etc. They also used some kind of tooth washing powder.
Actually, toothpaste can be considered the successor of that certain tooth washing powder. It’s because toothpaste was invented right after the popularity of the tooth washing powder extended.
So, let us go back to the time when people didn’t know what toothpaste even was.
History of toothpaste
Do you know when toothpaste was invented? Neither did we until we kind of researched it.
Now, that we know about the history of toothpaste, we should let you know about it too.
The invention of the first toothpaste
Let’s clear it first, toothpaste was first invented in 1824. A dentist whose name was Peabody was the person who invented the first toothpaste ever. But what he invented wasn’t the toothpaste we use today.
What he did was that he mixed a soap with some dental paste they used during that time. You can call that paste the prototype of today’s toothpaste.
Another dentist named John Harris used chalk instead of soap to mix with dental paste in the late 1850s. We don’t know how his version of toothpaste worked, but that version certainly didn’t last long as we don’t use chalk on our toothpaste anymore.
Later, in 1873, Colgate first started producing toothpaste in a jar. An American dentist named Dr. Washington Sheffield didn’t like the idea though.
His objection was people shouldn’t use a jar to store their toothpaste. So, he invented tubes to store that toothpaste in 1892. He was inspired by the paint tubes that artists used to store their paints.
A brief history of toothpaste brands
We already mentioned that Colgate was the one that produced toothpaste in a jar. So, Colgate should be considered the first toothpaste brand in the world.
Although Dr. Washington Sheffield opposed how they are providing people with toothpaste. So, he invented collapsible tubes to store that toothpaste, and Colgate also switched to the tubes.
In 1914, after World War II, fluoride was first introduced to toothpaste in order to defeat cavities. It isn’t clear which toothpaste brand did it.
In 1975, Tom’s toothpaste’ brand was the first brand that introduced herbal toothpaste. They used plant extracts, peppermints, and some other herbal ingredients to produce herbal toothpaste.
In 1987, Nasa astronauts thought of doing something for the kids. To let children use toothpaste without any difficulties, they made the first edible toothpaste.
What did people use before toothpaste?
Let’s see what humans use before toothpaste chronologically.
500 BC
These can be regarded as the times of ancient history. And you guys might be amazed that people were brushing their teeth during that time. How did they know that teeth should be cleaned regularly?
Though, we are not sure if they used to clean their teeth regularly or not. And also, did everyone during that time used to clean their teeth?
Scientists from 500 BC, in Egypt, were experimenting to create a substance that could help them to clean their teeth.
They used organic ingredients like soot, water, and gum that were naturally produced by the acacia tree. Their tooth cleaning substances were a bit abrasive compared to modern-day toothpaste.
The version of Greek and Romans we’re something that we call gross. They used bones, charcoal powder, oyster shells, and bark to make their tooth cleaning materials. Thank god, we didn’t inherit their version of toothpaste in the modern days.
China used the ingredients that our modern-day herbal toothpaste brands use now. They had used mints, salt, and other natural herbs in order to make something that would let them clean their teeth.
1800’s
We already talked about what people from the 1800s were using at that time, didn’t we?
So, What did they use to brush their teeth in the 1800s?
Toothpaste was first invented in 1824, so, people of the 1800s were most likely to use toothpaste then. And before the invention of toothpaste, meaning before 1824, they used to brush their teeth with tooth washing powder.
The 1800s was the time when people got to know about toothpaste more. First Colgate stored toothpaste in jars and served people that toothpaste in jars.
After that, they switched to collapsible tubes to store toothpaste, because of the concern from Dr. Washington Sheffield.
Dentists were using some fancy stuff with their dental pastes in order to make their version of toothpaste.
First, Peabody mixed soap with his dental pastes to make the first toothpaste ever. He basically was inspired by the tooth washing powder. He was amazed how those powders produced foams in your mouth. That’s why he tried the same thing with pastes by adding soap with them.
What is the best toothpaste?
Look, we shouldn’t bother ourselves with this topic, but some people really want to know which one is the best toothpaste of all time.
It is not a sports competition as you will be arguing whether Michael Jordan or Mohammed Ali is the best athlete of all time.
Toothpaste can be considered the best for the purposes they serve. There is no best toothpaste overall.
If you are looking for the best toothpaste for whitening your teeth, go for Arm and Hammer AdvancedWhite Extreme Whitening Toothpaste. It’s the best Arm and Hammer toothpaste out there.
If you are looking for the best toothpaste for tartar control, go for TartarEnd Toothpaste For Tartar Control.
And if you are looking for the best baking soda toothpaste, then go for Sefudun Citrus Baking Soda Toothpaste.
The best toothpaste is defined by what purposes they serve.
Conclusion
It’s time to wrap up our history class and bid you farewell.
We believe our article was less boring than your history books and you had fun knowing about the history of toothpaste.
So, that was all for today’s history lecture on toothpaste, have a good day.
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